Police: Poor judgment led to car-train crash

Two dead, two injured after collision near downtown LaPorte.

Two dead, two injured after collision near downtown LaPorte.

November 15, 2005|STAN MADDUX

An open case of beer was found in a car struck by a train near downtown LaPorte in a collision that left two men dead. Two juveniles in the vehicle, including the 17-year-old driver, remained at LaPorte Hospital on Monday with injuries not believed to be life-threatening. According to police, lack of judgment, perhaps, had more to do with the late Saturday night accident than alcohol. The driver had a blood alcohol level of 0.02 percent, well below Indiana's legal BAC limit of 0.08 percent, said LaPorte County Chief Deputy Coroner John Sullivan. "There were many beer bottles present inside the car," said Sullivan, who also revealed the alcoholic beverage containers were from a case found opened in the vehicle. At 11:55 p.m., police were called to the Norfolk Southern crossing on Tipton Street just north of Lincolnway. Several motorists at the crossing told investigators a westbound train had just passed through. The gates remained down and the flashing lights were still activated, though, because of a fast approaching eastbound train. The driver and his three passengers followed two southbound vehicles in front of them around the gates. Police said the Norfolk Southern freight train carrying 42 cars and moving at an estimated 40 mph struck the 1992 Chevy Corsica driven by the 17-year-old boy before he could pass over the crossing. "Two cars ahead of this car made it and this car didn't," Sullivan said. Israel Martinez, 36, and Armondo Villa, 29, were killed instantly. Also injured was another 17-year-old boy. According to police, the two boys suffered internal injuries but are expected to recover. All four of the passengers lived in LaPorte. Among the criminal and traffic violations leveled against the driver were operating a motor vehicle without ever obtaining a driver's license, underage drinking and disregarding a railroad crossing signal.